White loaves make retail popularity list

Lesley Foottit
· 01 December, 2014

Hovis white loaf:

one of the top ten most purchased products

(Photo: )

Three white loaves made it on to a list of the most-bought items in the UK.

While alcohol and crisps, unsurprisingly, topped the list of the nation’s favourite shopping items in the past 12 months, which was compiled by global market and shopper intelligence firm IRI as consumers engaged their sweet teeth. Smirnoff Vodka came in first place with £191.4m per annum.

Also in the top 10 were Kingsmill White Standard 800g at number six having made £135.1m sales, Warburtons White Standard 800g Toastie at number eight, with £133.4m in sales, and a Hovis White Standard 800g with £120m in sales.

Tim Eales, strategic insight director at IRI: “It’s interesting to see what people are choosing to spend their money on.

“Clearly we have our favourites – we like salty things, we like alcohol and sugary drinks, so the things we choose to spend our money on are never going to make the list of most healthy products. It is surprising, but it presents a snapshot of what we like and what we’re buying.”